You offer story ideas I haven’t thought of. You prompt me to refine my opinions. And most of all, I’m thankful that you’re reading and I’m thankful that you care about what my Orlando Sentinel colleagues and I write.

So let’s expand the...

]]>Thu, 3 Aug 2017 09:15:00 PDTBy adding depth, Magic seem intent on making something out of 2017-18 seasonJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-magic-analysis-0727-story.html
Many questions were unanswered when the Orlando Magic hired Jeff Weltman as their new president of basketball operations two months ago.

Chief among them: Did Weltman plan to tank the 2017-18 season in an attempt to secure the best possible draft pick next June?

His new contract with the Orlando Magic feels even more gratifying because of the road he traveled to reach this point.

Originally an early second-round pick in 2011, the hard-nosed point guard scrapped to find...

]]>Thu, 13 Jul 2017 09:50:00 PDTMagic's Bismack Biyombo will play in NBA Africa Game 2017Josh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-bismack-biyombo-nba-africa-game-0714-story.html
Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo will play in the NBA Africa Game 2017 on Aug. 5 in Johannesburg, the league and National Basketball Players Association announced Thursday.

Biyombo, who grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, played in the inaugural exhibition game in South Africa...

]]>Thu, 13 Jul 2017 07:00:00 PDTMagic seem unlikely to make major move in free agencyJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-magic-nba-salary-cap-0629-story.html
Many Orlando Magic fans hope the team will make a major splash during the upcoming free-agency period.

But a major signing by the Magic does not seem realistic this summer.

Under one reasonable scenario, the Magic could generate approximately $14.6 million in salary-cap space for free agency —...

And as we assess the Orlando Magic’s past five drafts, we come to an unmistakable, though still early, conclusion: The franchise failed to make the most of its opportunities.

...
]]>Fri, 16 Jun 2017 15:00:00 PDTMagic will host Orlando Pro Summer League from July 1-6Josh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-orlando-pro-summer-league-0519-story.html
The Orlando Magic will host their annual Orlando Pro Summer League from July 1-6 on Amway Center’s practice court.

This year, the league will feature entries from the Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and the...

]]>Thu, 18 May 2017 07:50:00 PDTOrlando Magic have options with 6th pick in NBA DraftJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-magic-draft-possibilities-0518-story.html
The Orlando Magic now know where they’ll pick during the NBA Draft on June 22.

The Magic own the sixth, 25th, 33rd and 35th overall selections.

The team had a 36.0 percent chance of receiving the sixth pick — the highest percentage for any single scenario in the lottery — but the result disappointed...

]]>Wed, 17 May 2017 13:40:00 PDTNC State's Dennis Smith Jr. will work out for Magic on MondayJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-orlando-magic-dennis-smith-0514-story.html
The Orlando Magic will hold an individual workout of North Carolina State point guard and draft prospect Dennis Smith Jr. on Monday morning at Amway Center.

Smith averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game during his lone season with the Wolfpack. He also made 35.9 percent of his...

]]>Thu, 11 May 2017 18:30:00 PDTMagic will participate in the NBA 2K eSports leagueJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-orlando-magic-esports-0505-story.html
The Orlando Magic will be one of 17 NBA teams that will participate in the inaugural season of the NBA 2K eSports league, NBA officials said.

The league is scheduled to debut in 2018.

According to CNet.com, the NBA eTeams "will have five human players competing in video games stretching out over...

]]>Thu, 4 May 2017 06:30:00 PDTIt's too early to say the Magic will offer David Griffin their top basketball ops jobJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-orlando-magic-david-griffin-0429-story.html
No one questions that David Griffin is on the Orlando Magic’s radar, but an ESPN report saying the Magic “intend to offer” their top basketball operations job to Griffin at the end of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season appears to be premature.

McHale is among the people the Magic are considering for the job, USA Today Sports reported and the Orlando Sentinel confirmed.

McHale, a color commentator for Turner Sports, most recently was...

]]>Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:35:00 PDTLarry Bird steps down as Pacers' president; Could Magic be interested in him?Josh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-orlando-magic-larry-bird-0428-story.html
Larry Bird is stepping down as the Indiana Pacers’ president of basketball operations, prompting speculation that the Orlando Magic will gauge his interest in joining their franchise in the same role.

Bird’s departure from the Pacers was reported by The Vertical, which also reported that the search...

]]>Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:50:00 PDTMagic have interest in Cavaliers GM David Griffin, report saysJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-orlando-magic-david-griffin-0422-story.html
The Orlando Magic could reach out to David Griffin to gauge his interest in heading their basketball operations department once the Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff run ends, The Vertical reported.

Griffin’s contract as the Cavaliers’ general manager is scheduled to expire at the end of the season.

The tiebreaker settled a four-way logjam between the teams that finished the regular season with the league’s fifth-best record: the Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors,...

]]>Tue, 18 Apr 2017 12:05:00 PDTQuestions and answers about the Orlando Magic’s GM searchJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-orlando-magic-gm-search-0415-story.html
Make no mistake, what the Orlando Magic did Thursday merely ended one era in franchise history. The firing of Rob Hennigan after five seasons as general manager does not guarantee the team will play any better next season or beyond. It just means the team must make crucial decisions about its future....
]]>Fri, 14 Apr 2017 09:40:00 PDTLakeland Magic chosen as name of Orlando Magic's D-League teamJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-lakeland-magic-d-league-0412-story.html
The Orlando Magic have named their new NBA Development League affiliate the Lakeland Magic, team officials announced Wednesday.

Alchemy, Dragons, Illusion, Lakers, Swans and Voodoo were proposed nicknames that also received multiple entries in a name-the-team contest, team officials said.

• THE MAGIC’S MVP: Aaron Gordon produced his 32 points on 11-of-24 shooting, and he also gathered 16 rebounds.

...
]]>Fri, 31 Mar 2017 21:05:00 PDTMagic can play the role of spoiler against CelticsJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-magic-celtics-preview-story-0331-story.html
BOSTON — The Orlando Magic were eliminated mathematically from playoff contention several days ago, but the Magic at least can play the role of spoiler.

Their first target is their opponent tonight: the Boston Celtics, who sit precariously atop the Eastern Conference standings.

“Obviously, it would...

]]>Fri, 31 Mar 2017 10:25:00 PDTElfrid Payton wins NBA Cares Community Assist AwardJosh Robbinshttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/magic-basketblog/os-sp-elfrid-payton-nba-cares-award-0329-story.html
Orlando Magic point guard Elfrid Payton has won the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for February for his work helping kids.

Payton’s charitable foundation established an after-school program in Orlando that taught fifth-graders about art, dance, music and poetry.